Canada Should Protect Great Lakes if US Won’t

Toronto, April 26th
– In a random sampling of public opinion taken by The Forum Poll™ amongst
1479 Canadian voters, a solid majority (57%) believe that if the United States
cuts funding to the protection of the great lakes, that Canada has a
responsibility to increase great lakes funding in response. Only (23%) say no,
Canada does not have a responsibility to increase funding, with (20%) saying
they don’t know.

Respondents most
likely to say that Canada has a responsibility to increase great lakes funding
includes those aged 34 and younger (61%), the least wealthy (63%) or earning
$80,000-$100,000 (63%), living in Ontario (62%) or BC (60%), and supporting the
Green Party (70%). Those with a post-graduate (61%) or college/university
degree (59%) are also likely to believe Canada has a responsibility to increase
great lakes funding should the United States cut the funding for their
protection.

Respondents most
likely to say that Canada does not have a responsibility to increase great
lakes funding includes those aged 45-54 (28%), males (30%), the most wealthy
(32%), living in Manitoba/Saskatchewan (29%) or Alberta (29%), and supporting
the Conservatives (36%). Those with some college or university (26%) are also
likely to believe Canada does not have a responsibility to increase great lakes
funding if the United States cuts it.

"Canadians
clearly place great importance on the health of the great lakes, as a solid
majority believe that we have a responsibility to increase our funding to protection
if the US cuts theirs, and, given the current political climate in the United
States, Canada may be in this situation more often than not in the coming
months,” said Dr. Lorne Bozinoff, President of Forum Research.

Lorne Bozinoff,
Ph.D. is the president and founder of Forum Research. He can be reached at
lbozinoff@forumresearch.com or at (416) 960-9603.